Fashion Statement: Hanging out with Christina Ricci

By
Liz Kelly

(AP)

Context is everything, so we should probably note that Christina Ricci wore the dress at right to an event honoring performance artist Marina Abramovic's MOMA exhibit, in which the artist spent the past several days -- possibly catheterized -- sitting stock still in a chair while her naked underlings elsewhere in the museum did their best to shock and awe titillated visitors.

But back to Ricci. The frock is Givenchy and may have been absolutely stunning on a gazelle-like, willowy runway model. But from the rigid black half moon (described by some Internet commenters as a pirate's hat that seems to have slipped down over her torso) at her shoulders to the waistline -- which gives the impression of a beer gut -- to the mismatched floofy skirt to the stray piece of fabric trailing behind her, nothing about this look works for the diminutive Ricci.

But forget that laundry list of failings. The story here is not so much the dress as what is under it. One's eyes are drawn to what is unmistakably peeking out through the lace encasing Ricci's torso: under cleavage.

For those not in the know, that's her 'underboob', 'neathage' or can even be referred to as 'Australian cleavage'.

Under-cleavage is hardly a new phenomenon. Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were cited as inaugurating the trend as long ago as 2003. Said one stylist at the time:

"The new cleavage is the under-cleavage," said Jeanne Yang, a celebrity stylist with Cloutier Agency in Santa Monica, Calif. "In many ways, it's more provocative than regular cleavage. There's an element that suggests that you might get to see more."

Okay. I must have missed this look catching on with the masses over the last seven years, unless Hooters waitresses count as average middle American consumers. But will Ricci's latest look kick off an under-cleavage revolution? You tell us.

I wish you'd had the category "she's taking a risk but it didn't work for her." The fact that she was attending an avant garde art event entitles her to considerable leeway taste-wise, but unfortunately this misfired, at least insofar as the photo is concerned (maybe it was slightly better in person?).

Anyone else think that Christina and figure skater Sacha Cohen look like they were separated at birth?

As a man, just let me say that we will decide what is more provocative, not some stylist. Don't like the look, but do have some affection for the term "Australian Cleavage." ALtho I am thinking it could apply to more that the bottom of boobs. All depends on how far down you want to go.

Good outfits enhance the body. They draw the eye to your good assets and distract from the ones that are not your best. Why would anyone want to draw the eye to the bottom of their breasts? It just makes everything look saggy. It's not about how much you expose, it's about how you expose what you expose.

Good clothing draws the eye in ways that enhance your best features and downplay your worst. When you draw the eye to the bottom of the bust, it just gives the impression that they are sagging. Why would you want an outfit that makes you look like you're sagging?

Marina Abramovic spent the past "several days" performing? Try 700 hours. And her "naked underlings"? They were actors selected especially for this groundbreaking retrospective. Who writes this? An actual Washington Post journalist? Amazing. If you're not going to bother to make substantial, factual statements about the art, just stick to talking about the dress.